A little history…
It was in 1768 that the first kaolin vein was discovered in Limousin. A discovery made by a surgeon, Jean-Baptiste Darnet. A clay actively sought after in France for the manufacture of hard porcelain by the Manufacture de Sèvres. Because “the first Limoges porcelain was made in 1771” recalls Nicole Delage, president of the Marcognac Terre de Porcelaine association.
35 quarries over 25 kilometers
It is therefore the discovery of clay in the region that launched the manufacture of ceramics in Limoges. Clay then became the most demanded raw material at this time. “In the 19th century, there was an area going from Chalard to Coussac-Bonneval, or 25 kilometers, 35 quarries,” explains Nicole Delage. With sometimes about fifty workers who work in the quarries with the shovel and the pickaxe, the region is very promising. The work is often done thanks to courageous women who are in charge of bringing up in wicker baskets on their heads the stones extracted in the quarries. Then to sort and scrape the impurities from each stone. At the Faïencerie de Charolles, we use clay that comes from France in the Limoges region.
Mixed with water, an alloy is obtained called a “slip”. Very liquid, it is perfect to be poured into plaster molds which were handcrafted by our mold maker. It is a real French know-how of the work of the hands. The clay once fired takes on its pure and uniform white color. What makes the atmosphere of the workshop sweet.
The term “ceramic” (ceramic product) generally refers to inorganic materials (which may have a certain organic content), permanently transformed by firing. Ceramics can be glazed or matt, porous or vitrified. The characteristic properties of ceramics are their high mechanical strength, resistance to wear and longevity; chemically inert, they are non-toxic, resistant to heat and fire, and generally have insulating properties and sometimes also specific porosity. Clay-based raw materials can be found all over Europe, but La Faïencerie de Charolles has chosen the superior quality of made in France for the realization of its works. France has the necessary raw materials, as well as traditional skills and know-how. The first step of the ceramic process concerns the preparation of clays. The raw materials extracted from their quarry are measured, crushed and then mixed in order to form a clay paste suitable for shaping products. Ceramics are made using different types of kilns and a variety of raw materials to produce products that can come in various shapes, sizes and colors. The general manufacturing process for ceramics, on the other hand, is fairly uniform, apart from the fact that multi-stage firing is often required for the manufacture of wall or floor tiles, household items, sanitary ware and ceramics. techniques. In general, the raw materials are mixed and then shaped by casting, pressing or extrusion. A regular supply of water facilitates mixing and shaping. This water evaporates in the dryers and the products are then manually loaded. Ancestral know-how applied to the letter by the artisans of the Charolles pottery, who produce “handmade” works in accordance with the same rules of the art as their predecessors. The Manufacture carries high the cultural heritage of earthenware and gives back its letters of nobility to this art profession, more alive and acclaimed than ever. who produce “hand-made” works in accordance with the same rules of the art as their predecessors. The Manufacture carries high the cultural heritage of earthenware and gives back its letters of nobility to this art profession, more alive and acclaimed than ever. who produce “hand-made” works in accordance with the same rules of the art as their predecessors. The Manufacture carries high the cultural heritage of earthenware and gives back its letters of nobility to this art profession, more alive and acclaimed than ever.